This study was conducted in the Banni region
of the Gujarat State, India, which is located in the... more This study was conducted in the Banni region of the Gujarat State, India, which is located in the westernmost end of the country. The main objective was to investigate the local perceptions of grassland change, regeneration potentiality, socio-economic status and factors that cause degradation of the vegetation resources in Banni. Information on vegetation deterioration and changes in species composition significant for sustainable management of grassland was obtained through interviews with 51 elderly maldharies (pastoralists) and local inhabitants living in 31 villages in Banni. Local people had observed a change in the local surrounding habitats from grassland to woodland (dominated by Prosopis juliflora, locally called Gando Bavar) during their lifetime and considered it primarily a result of frequent intensive drought, constructed dams on flooding rivers in Banni, and declining rainfall. The study furthermore identified a close coincidence between the interest in conserving tree species diversity nearby the natural water resources and priorities of local inhabitants, which included protection of plenty of large trees (including many fruit tress, viz. Mangifera indicia (Ambo), Cordia dichotoma (Gunda)and Pithecellobium dulce (Gorasamli)), improvement of woody fodder tree and grass species regeneration, and reduction of overgrazing pressure on grasslands. Focusing management strategies on increasing the populations of such declining and highly preferred tree and grass species, by active restoration and grazing policies, would enhance the natural resource value and biodiversity wealth considerably and thereby the quality of life for the local inhabitants.
We monitored the mortality of herpetofauna on a fortnightly basis along National Highway 220, whi... more We monitored the mortality of herpetofauna on a fortnightly basis along National Highway 220, which cuts across the Western Ghats, India, during December 2006- November 2007. In all, 101 amphibians (3.5 amphibians/ 10km) belonging to six taxa and 78 reptiles (2.7 reptiles/ 10 km) of 23 taxa were found dead in 48 surveys. The mortality of amphibians during day and night was significantly different (Z= 3.12, n1= 24, n2= 24, P<0.01), whereas this was not so with respect to reptiles. The difference in the mortality of amphibians between seasons was not significant, but it was significant with respect to reptiles (Z= -1.188, n1= 24, n2= 24, p< 0.05). Overall, the road kills of amphibians were significantly correlated with that occurring in nearby forests (r = 0.67, n= 12, P< 0.01), but reptiles had no such relationship. The number of road kills of amphibians and reptiles on a monthly basis was not correlated with the intensity of vehicle plying on the road
This study was conducted in the Banni region
of the Gujarat State, India, which is located in the... more This study was conducted in the Banni region of the Gujarat State, India, which is located in the westernmost end of the country. The main objective was to investigate the local perceptions of grassland change, regeneration potentiality, socio-economic status and factors that cause degradation of the vegetation resources in Banni. Information on vegetation deterioration and changes in species composition significant for sustainable management of grassland was obtained through interviews with 51 elderly maldharies (pastoralists) and local inhabitants living in 31 villages in Banni. Local people had observed a change in the local surrounding habitats from grassland to woodland (dominated by Prosopis juliflora, locally called Gando Bavar) during their lifetime and considered it primarily a result of frequent intensive drought, constructed dams on flooding rivers in Banni, and declining rainfall. The study furthermore identified a close coincidence between the interest in conserving tree species diversity nearby the natural water resources and priorities of local inhabitants, which included protection of plenty of large trees (including many fruit tress, viz. Mangifera indicia (Ambo), Cordia dichotoma (Gunda)and Pithecellobium dulce (Gorasamli)), improvement of woody fodder tree and grass species regeneration, and reduction of overgrazing pressure on grasslands. Focusing management strategies on increasing the populations of such declining and highly preferred tree and grass species, by active restoration and grazing policies, would enhance the natural resource value and biodiversity wealth considerably and thereby the quality of life for the local inhabitants.
We monitored the mortality of herpetofauna on a fortnightly basis along National Highway 220, whi... more We monitored the mortality of herpetofauna on a fortnightly basis along National Highway 220, which cuts across the Western Ghats, India, during December 2006- November 2007. In all, 101 amphibians (3.5 amphibians/ 10km) belonging to six taxa and 78 reptiles (2.7 reptiles/ 10 km) of 23 taxa were found dead in 48 surveys. The mortality of amphibians during day and night was significantly different (Z= 3.12, n1= 24, n2= 24, P<0.01), whereas this was not so with respect to reptiles. The difference in the mortality of amphibians between seasons was not significant, but it was significant with respect to reptiles (Z= -1.188, n1= 24, n2= 24, p< 0.05). Overall, the road kills of amphibians were significantly correlated with that occurring in nearby forests (r = 0.67, n= 12, P< 0.01), but reptiles had no such relationship. The number of road kills of amphibians and reptiles on a monthly basis was not correlated with the intensity of vehicle plying on the road
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of the Gujarat State, India, which is located in the westernmost
end of the country. The main objective was to
investigate the local perceptions of grassland change,
regeneration potentiality, socio-economic status and factors
that cause degradation of the vegetation resources in
Banni. Information on vegetation deterioration
and changes in species composition significant for
sustainable management of grassland was obtained
through interviews with 51 elderly maldharies (pastoralists)
and local inhabitants living in 31 villages in Banni.
Local people had observed a change in the local
surrounding habitats from grassland to woodland (dominated
by Prosopis juliflora, locally called Gando Bavar)
during their lifetime and considered it primarily a result of
frequent intensive drought, constructed dams on flooding
rivers in Banni, and declining rainfall. The study furthermore
identified a close coincidence between the interest in
conserving tree species diversity nearby the natural water
resources and priorities of local inhabitants, which
included protection of plenty of large trees (including
many fruit tress, viz. Mangifera indicia (Ambo), Cordia
dichotoma (Gunda)and Pithecellobium dulce (Gorasamli)),
improvement of woody fodder tree and grass
species regeneration, and reduction of overgrazing pressure
on grasslands. Focusing management strategies on
increasing the populations of such declining and highly
preferred tree and grass species, by active restoration and
grazing policies, would enhance the natural resource value
and biodiversity wealth considerably and thereby the
quality of life for the local inhabitants.
during December 2006- November 2007. In all, 101 amphibians (3.5 amphibians/ 10km) belonging to six taxa and 78 reptiles (2.7 reptiles/ 10 km) of 23 taxa
were found dead in 48 surveys. The mortality of amphibians during day and night was significantly different (Z= 3.12, n1= 24, n2= 24, P<0.01), whereas this
was not so with respect to reptiles. The difference in the mortality of amphibians between seasons was not significant, but it was significant with respect to
reptiles (Z= -1.188, n1= 24, n2= 24, p< 0.05). Overall, the road kills of amphibians were significantly correlated with that occurring in nearby forests
(r = 0.67, n= 12, P< 0.01), but reptiles had no such relationship. The number of road kills of amphibians and reptiles on a monthly basis was not correlated
with the intensity of vehicle plying on the road
of the Gujarat State, India, which is located in the westernmost
end of the country. The main objective was to
investigate the local perceptions of grassland change,
regeneration potentiality, socio-economic status and factors
that cause degradation of the vegetation resources in
Banni. Information on vegetation deterioration
and changes in species composition significant for
sustainable management of grassland was obtained
through interviews with 51 elderly maldharies (pastoralists)
and local inhabitants living in 31 villages in Banni.
Local people had observed a change in the local
surrounding habitats from grassland to woodland (dominated
by Prosopis juliflora, locally called Gando Bavar)
during their lifetime and considered it primarily a result of
frequent intensive drought, constructed dams on flooding
rivers in Banni, and declining rainfall. The study furthermore
identified a close coincidence between the interest in
conserving tree species diversity nearby the natural water
resources and priorities of local inhabitants, which
included protection of plenty of large trees (including
many fruit tress, viz. Mangifera indicia (Ambo), Cordia
dichotoma (Gunda)and Pithecellobium dulce (Gorasamli)),
improvement of woody fodder tree and grass
species regeneration, and reduction of overgrazing pressure
on grasslands. Focusing management strategies on
increasing the populations of such declining and highly
preferred tree and grass species, by active restoration and
grazing policies, would enhance the natural resource value
and biodiversity wealth considerably and thereby the
quality of life for the local inhabitants.
during December 2006- November 2007. In all, 101 amphibians (3.5 amphibians/ 10km) belonging to six taxa and 78 reptiles (2.7 reptiles/ 10 km) of 23 taxa
were found dead in 48 surveys. The mortality of amphibians during day and night was significantly different (Z= 3.12, n1= 24, n2= 24, P<0.01), whereas this
was not so with respect to reptiles. The difference in the mortality of amphibians between seasons was not significant, but it was significant with respect to
reptiles (Z= -1.188, n1= 24, n2= 24, p< 0.05). Overall, the road kills of amphibians were significantly correlated with that occurring in nearby forests
(r = 0.67, n= 12, P< 0.01), but reptiles had no such relationship. The number of road kills of amphibians and reptiles on a monthly basis was not correlated
with the intensity of vehicle plying on the road